Voltaire: On the Government - Essay Example

Voltaire states that the rulers of England, and indeed, of Europe as a whole, have all laid siege to the countries, and have reaped benefits after their own interests, sidelining the interests of the common man who was thought of as inferior to the ruling class4. He draws a sketch of the different evolutionary stages that occurred in the styles of government in England and pinpoints the flaws of each form of Government, or each new policy of the ruler5.The letter is written in a style of comparison; Voltaire compares the government of England that existed historically with the form of Government that exists presently, evidently siding with the present form of government and presenting its benefits and superiority as compared to the historical form6.

He also compares the ruling class with the common masses, treating the former with contempt and disgust, and the latter with appreciation and pity7. His writing his highly prejudiced; he does not make an effort to critically analyze the rulers of the past, instead merely submits their unfair disposition towards the masses8. Similarly, he does not weigh the pros and cons of the present form of Government, rather simply praises it as flawless9. Therefore, his letter cannot be considered a critical analysis of the Government.